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REV. MR. BIGELOW'S 



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ORDINATION SERMON 

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Christians should support an* tirfcntJ the £ruth. 



SERMON, 



DELIVERED MARCH 1-' 1 HE ORDINATIO.V 



REV. ASAIIEL BIGELOW, 



VSTOR OF THE 



HODOX « ONGREGATIONAL riHR( II 




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\\\ JONATH W BIGELOW, 



Hoot on : 

T. H. M \i:\ IN, PRIM Mi:, 111 I . 

1828. 



J5A7Z: 



SERMON. 



2 Corinthians, xiii. 8. 
For we can do nothing against the truth, hut for the truth. 

Pail, after his conversion to Christianity, was an ha 
man, was a humble man, was a benevolent\aan, was a prayer- 
fid man, was the chief of the apostles, labored more abun- 
dantly than they all, and received all his knowledge of Chris- 
tianity by immediate revelation from Jesus Christ. In proof 
of this, we have the u stimony of Luke, of the apostle Pet< r, 
and of the other apostles who gave him the right hand of 
fellowship, and acknowledged his authority as an apostle, and 
even bis superiority in some point-, to themselves. We have 

the testimony of God to Ananias, that he was a u cho$en 

re/," and was raised up i icpressly for tin: station be so emi- 

iH ntly Glled ; and in addition, he wrought miracles and 

uttered predictions, the fulfilment of which succeeding a 
have witnessed. Plainly then, Paul was pre-eminently quali- 
fied to preach and explain the gospel, and all bis epistles are 

the result of the highest degn e of divine inspiration ; and 

hem pect to find in hi- Writings, if any R 

in the Vu Testament, all the doctrines and duties and mo- 
tives of Christianity presented in their most lucid form, and 
sustained by the most conclusive ei iden 

Paul was i.<»t ashamed of the gospel. He gloried in the 

cross, at which bo many were, and still are offended J and 



4 

what appeared to the sages of Greece and Rome foolishness, 

was to him the wisdom of God : and for it, he u counted all 
things else but loss." and felt that he " could do nothing 
against the truth, but for the truth." Indeed, God sent him 
to the Gentiles, " to open their eyes, to turn them from dark- 
ness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that 
they might receive the forgiveness of sins, and inheritance 
among them that are sanctified by faith in Christ ;" and he 
qualified him for his work. From the character of Paul, as 
preeminently the champion of Christianity, — its most power- 
ful preacher, and most able defender, we are not surprised to 
find the shafts of the enemies of truth specially levelled at 
him while living, and at his writings in every succeeding age. 

It was in reference to false apostles, deceitful workers, 
transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ, and to 
defeat their attempts to sow discord, and division, and error 
among the Corinthians, and to repel the attacks made upon 
himself and his inspiration as an apostle, that Paul wrote this 
epistle to that church : and in each attempt he triumphantly 
succeeded. 

Opposition to the gospel, as taught by Jesus and his in- 
spired apostles, although it commenced, did not terminate 
with the apostolic age. Truth and error have ever been in 
keen collision, and at no period has the contest been more 
animated, or the attacks of error more daring and unprinci- 
pled, than during the last fifty years. The assault is not now 
made upon the outworks, but upon the citadel of Christianity. 
The attempt is, not to pull down an antiquated part of the 
superstructure, but to raze the foundations. It is a period 
therefore, when neutrality can no longer be maintained, and 
when it would be treason if it could. The churches founded 
by the Pilgrims, have arrived at the point when like their 
founders, they must say with Paul, " we can do nothing 
against the truth, but for the truth," — and carry the principle 
into execution, whatever be the sacrifice. We deeply regret 
the necessity of arming for the conflict, but the cause of truth 



demands it ; and let us remember, that the field of coi 
maintained with fidelity, is the field of honor and of reward. 
Although some of whom we hoped better thing 
ed, and others may • I, while proph- 

ets and apostles constitute the foundation, "J - Christ 

If being the chief corn. " — i tad el will 31 

however numerous the assailants, and her. sperate the 

assault. 

The sentiment of my text, as far as applicable to i 
Christians \ki: under sacred obligatio >o all 

thet m\y for thk support and i of the truth, 

and avoid evert thini LGAiNST it; and my object on this 
occasion is to show bri 

I. What P. :td meant by the truth. 

II. Show what we can do for it, and 

III. Pi .sent some motives which should induce us to do 
all we may for it- support and defence. And 

1. What did Paul mean by the truth ? 

In reply I ai christ'mnitij, comprehending all 

its principle-, duties, ordinances, promises, thn 5s, priv- 

ileges, and immuniti < J Christ and his 

ed apostlt - :— I ly, i ■ 'ly, in opp 

to all 1 Gi ecian and Ro- 

man pbilo phcrs, 01 . and also in opposition 

to tlii ror which have in diflfl 

d its nam' . and to all the adull tl mpted 

and the Gnostics in the 
. ind by the philosophers and errorists of 
; and 1 \ught by Je$us Christ and hit 

intpin »ns author- 

id their writings are the only accredited 
,.d instructions. We believe thi> 
I infallible, and to it- d< 1 beerfully and with- 

out n bmitour own judgment, and reason, and con- 

j and it is 



minds in its spirit, and be perfectly transformed into the 
blessed image of Him whom it reveals as " the way, the 
truth, and the life." We also deem it intelligible to the 
minds of all candid and honest inquirers after truth, and we 
doubt not that he who is willing to obey its requisitions and 
yield his own mind to its guidance, will find very little diffi- 
culty in learning its doctrines and its duties. We have no 
fear for the orthodoxy of him, who, in heart, believes the 
Bible, and honestly endeavors to conform his affections and 
life to its requisitions, and his sentiments to its principles. — 
They only, who are unwilling to walk in its light, grope in 
doubt and uncertainty, or adopt sentiments which even a 
Cicero, or Socrates would have rejected, and live a less 
religious life than they. 

It is only because men are unwilling to be guided in their 
sentiments and practice implicitly by the Bible, unwilling to 
make it the guide and the measure of their christian faith, 
that we hear reason extolled above it, and behold all its de- 
cisions brought to the bar of a mortal for adjudication, and 
see one verse after another, and strange to tell, entire books 
stricken from the sacred canon, either as interpolations, or 
as apochryphal, contrary to evidence which, on any other 
subject, all would esteem overwhelming. And not content 
with the multitude of various readings, recourse is had to 
conjectural readings ; i. e. to a deliberate altering of the 
record, when by no power of torture or excision, can an 
unyielding passage be made to speak the desired language. 
We are not surprised to hear men of this description preach 
a gospel as different from the gospel taught by Jesus Christ 
and his apostles, as God over all blessed forever, is different 
from a frail and erring man ; or as the sacrifice of Him who 
created all things and upholds all things, is different from the 
offering of a mortal. Nay, we shall rather be surprised, if, 
having completed their excisions and improvements, they 
leave the covering of the Bible entire, to show us its form 
and dimensions before it passed through the sacrilegious or- 



deal. Many, of this description, have worn the mask of 
Christianity until it has literally fallen from their faces ; and 
on all, it is becoming too threadbare to conceal them. It 
would, in our opinion, spare them much labor, be quite as 
honorable to themselves, and quite as acceptable to the 
author of the Bible, and would very little alter their senti- 
ments, to lay it aside altogether. 

The " march of intellect and the improvements of the ■ _ 
have so far transcended the writings of the apostles, and 
seem to govern men's minds so much more absolutely, that 
New Testament may very well be dispensed with, since, 
to keep it in any kind of credit in learned and polished socie- 
ty, we must expunge from it the doctrine of the Trinity, into 
whose name we were baptized, as an absurdity " which in- 
spiration itself could not prove true ;" — the doctrine of an 
atoning " Saviour, whom God hath set forth to be a propitia- 
tion to declare his righteousness, that He might be just and 
the justifier of Him which believeth in Jesus'' — as a violation 
of justice, and an unparalleled instance of barbarity. The 
doctrine of the entire sinfulness of the human heart, from the 
commencement of moral agency, as utterly d< .-trurtive of 
moral agency and accountability : — the regeneration of a part 
of mankind by the special influence of the Holy Ghost, 
act of undue partiality; — the existence of Satan and of fallen 
spirits, as a remnant of superstition ; — and the endless punish- 
ment of the wicked, and indeed, the i of any punish- 
. either in this life or the next, oilier than a gracious and 
merciful chastisement to reform them, bs utterly inconsistent 
with the goodness and paternal character of God, and sub- 
e, not only of his more amiable attributes, but < \ 
istice. Now, if nothing but the excision of all tip 
sages in the \ Testament which do unequivocally teach 
these sentiments, in the opinion of all who have not an oj 

ipport, and tin 1 distortion of a -till more Dume- 
. which imply them, and uhieh become tame and 
'mi- it' we deny them ; — if nothing 



8 

give the Bible currency in this enlightened age, and enable 
it to keep pace with the " march of mind" we say unhesitat- 
ingly, let it be left behind, and let the " march of intellect" 
be no more impeded by its uncompromising decisions ! — 
That Jesus Christ and his apostles did intend to teach, and 
have clearly taught these doctrines, and that these and their 
kindred doctrines and concomitant duties do constitute the 
genuine Christianity of the Scriptures, has been the unani- 
mous belief of the great body of the christian church in every 
age. And when we open the Bible, and read passages like 
the following, (which are genuine, unsparing criticism being 
judge,) viz. " In the beginning was the ivord } and the word 
urns ivith God, and the word xoas God. All things were 
made by Him. The ivorld was made by Him. By Him 
were all things created that are in Heaven, or on earth, and 
by Him all things consist. He that hath seen me, hath seen 
the Father. I am the root and the offspring of David" 
i. e. both the author and descendant of David. " Of whom, 
as concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, God 
blessed forever. And He is the propitiation for our sins : 
and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole 
ivorld. He died, the just for the unjust. By his one offer- 
ing he has perfected forever them that believe. For if one 
died for all, then were all dead. And were by nature 
children of wrath, even as others. Verily, verily, I say unto 
you, execpt a man be born of water and the spirit, he cannot 
enter into the kingdom of God. Justified freely by his grace, 
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. The wick- 
ed shall go away into everlasting punishment. Who shall be 
punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the 
Lord, and from the glory of his power." 

When we read, on almost every page in the New Testa- 
ment, passages like these, we must be other than candid and 
honest, to deny that Christ and his inspired apostles have 
actually taught those sentiments which the evangelical in 
every age have believed, and which were the sentiments of 



our pious forefathers, and which are still embraced by the 
great majority of their descendants. These are the principles 
which this church profess, as the foundation of all their hopes. 
A departure from these princip] ..mot but esteem a 

departure from the gospel ; and a rejection of them, in effect, 
a rejection of I I. We know indeed, that those who 

reject these sentiments profess to be christians, and charge 
us with bigotry and a spirit of exclusion, for refusing to ex- 
tend to them the hand of fellow-hip as such, and for refusing 
to admit them to our pulpits, and churches, and hearts, with 
all the cordiality of brethren. We presume not to dictate to 
any man what he shall believe ; we interfere not with the 
rights of conscience — they are sacred and ought to be invio- 
lable. We neither call any man, nor desire to be called, 
master; and with joy would we receive as brethren, all, 
whom charity in its kindliest workings, would lead us to be- 

Christ has received, even though " weak in the faith." 
But although charity carries with her a broad mantle, which 
I throw over the mistakes and errors of a 
broth neither blind nor credulous: — and even her 

broad mantle has its limits. It will cover neither the blind 
guide, nor the hypocrite ; neither those who teach lor doc- 

the commandments of men, nor those who make 
the law through their tradition-, nor rho concerning 

faith have mad ck, nor those who go about to estab- 

lish a right of their own. Before divim charil . 

: -tood naked, I, and condemned ; and we dare 

not add new folds of human fabric to her celestial mantle. 

the 1} rant, who has annihilated I 

tige of hi- nil Buppri jsed < very expr< 

of public opinion, profess to be a republican, as tiny profess 

christians, who reject the r< ity and human 

.1 ( : iii- propitiation as the only ground ol pardon; 

ntire sini f the human heart ; tie- consequent 

if an entire moral n DOVation by the Spirit ol I 
the unrestrained freedom and accountability <>! man, and the 



10 

existence of rewards for the righteous, and punishments for 
the wicked in another life, strictly endless. If men choose to 
reject these and their kindred sentiments, and adopt those 
more congenial to their own wishes, they are at liberty to do 
so, — to their own master they stand or fall. But having used 
their liberty, they must not complain if we use ours, and 
believe them no longer entitled to our fellowship, as they who 
hold fast the faith once delivered unto the saints, for " we 
can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth." We 
believe the Christianity of the Scriptures. We believe 
it perfect as there revealed, and consequently, that it needs 
no additions from the reason, or philosophy, or metaphysics, 
or theories, of either friends or foes. We believe that neither 
the "progress of intellect," nor the " vast improvements" of 
this, or any future age can add any thing to it, other than 
human ignorance, and folly, and error ; because, as revealed, 
it is the wisdom of God. 

" A glory gilds the sacred page, 
Majestic, like the sun, 
It gives a light to every age, 
It gives — but borrows none." 

IT. What can we do for the truth ? 

I answer, we must in the first place learn it, and cordially 
believe it ; not simply because it appears reasonable, but 
because God has revealed it as truth. Divine testimony is 
the only firm foundation of christian faith, and this precludes 
all reasoning and all doubt, and demands implicit belief. 
We believe its doctrines, not because we find them what we 
should have desired, nor because they are what, a priori, we 
should have expected ; nor because we can comprehend all 
the reasons of them, or the exact nature and manner of the 
existence of the things revealed ; we believe them, because 
God bore them witness, both with signs, and wonders, and 
with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according 
to his will. 

We must cordially believe the truth, because it is an im- 



11 

mediate duty which we owe to God who revealed it, nnd 
who has given us unequivocal evidence that it is bis word; 
and because a cordial belief of it is an essential prerequisite 
to qualify us to do any thing r the truth, acceptable 

to God. He who docs not himself believe all the truths 
of Christianity, or who only half believes them, suffering 
his mind continually to doubt and waver, is but poorly 
qualified to defend them when assailed, to explain them 
when misunderstood, and hud the whole weight of hi 
sonal example to their influence; and will be but ill dispos- 
ed to make sacrifices of his property or reputation, for their 
support. No, — such an one you will find, either among the 
enemies of the truth, or with its lukewarm professors, or 
among those who wish to assume a guilty neutrality, when the 
question comes to the trial, Shall die truth be supported or 
relinquished? Nothing but an unwavering belief of Christianity, 
deeply rooted in the inmost soul, seizing upon the warmest 
dons of the heart, will a . e, and muscle, and that 

- juled purpose which nothing can daunt or overcome, 
in the hour when persecution ariseth because of the word ; 
and nothing short of this, will ensure perseverance in the em- 
ployment of those means which divine wisdom has established 
for its defence and propagation. 

\ d by thus believing the truth, we shall u r iv<' it its full influ- 
ence over our affections and lives, -hall ourselves be among 
phies, and add to our example and efforts tin; per-iia- 
ind I had almost -aid, tin UT< s'lStibl of mani- 

fest sincerity. Without this, although found with the friends 
of truth, we shall only be like Saul among the prophets. 
Let me entreat you, my friends, first of all, to receive the 
truth into good and honest hearts, and then )on will bring 
forth all its fruits with patience, and will be prepared to stand 
forth as its firm and unyielding advocates, and r< «• ive the 
approbation of its author. 

J. I answ< i . we must practise the truth. 
first question which every on 



12 

do the man's professed principles have upon his practice ? 
Do they make him prayerful, humble, benevolent. Do they 
cause him to live soberly, righteously, and godly. Does his 
faith enable him to overcome the world with its temptations, 
and does it cheer and animate him in the near prospect of 
death ? Notwithstanding what has been said to the contrary, 
we need not the eye of omniscience to determine whether 
men pray habitually and devoutly, even in the secrecy of the 
closet. The piety and devotion of the closet, like the roots 
of the majestic tree, lie indeed concealed, but where they 
exist with any vitality, they will shoqfc their branches upward, 
and bad, and blossom, and bear fruit in open day ; and 
where we cannot discover even the tender shoot, we usually 
search in vain for the root, and if found, it is only dry and 
dead. " By their fruits ye shall know them." Now if it be 
found that we do not consider our principles worth reducing 
to practice in our own case, however zealously we may assert 
and defend them, and however liberally we may support 
them ; or if it be found, when reduced to practice, that they 
cause us to live no more holily, we must not, in the first in- 
stance, expect men to place a higher value upon them than 
we appear to, nor in the second place to esteem them of any 
value. Genuine Christianity made all who cordially believed 
it, prayerful, humble, benevolent, sober, righteous, godly. It 
made them new men, — and it is certain, that that cannot be 
genuine Christianity, which, where believed and practised, 
does not produce the same good fruits. The man then, 
who is not made more prayerful and holy by his belief, must 
not complain, if we doubt either the sincerity, or the ortho- 
doxy of his faith. 

Experience has proved, that it is only by exhibiting the 
principles of Christianity in our life and conversation, in all 
our intercourse with our families, and with society ; causing it 
to breathe forth in kindness and good will to all ; to prompt 
to purity of life, and the performance of whatsoever is lovely 
and of good report ; and suffering it to melt down our own 



13 

soul, and form our own character after its blessed image ; 
that we can give to the world the clearest and most persua- 
sive illustration of the value and efficacy, if not of the truth, 
of the zospel ; and cause them with >rify our heav- 

enly Father for his infinite love in revealing it. M If ye 
know these thin.:-, happy are ye if ye do them." " ! 
doers of the word." Without it, however pure the truths 
you believe, you will hold them in unrighteousness, and re- 
ceive the reward of the servant who knew his Lord's will, 
and did it not ; and without if, you will only bring discredit 
upon the principles you profess. Having believed and prac- 
the truth, we are, 
• 5. To make a public profession of the truth, and to 
form ourselves into churches separate from them who do not 
believe, and- practice, and profess it, for the purpose of sup- 
porting and defending tfa : celebrating its ordinal ; 
and aiding each other in our christian warfare. The church, 
thus comp - the dep i whose keeping Christ 
committed his ordinances and bis gospel : and to it made all 
hi> promises, and commanded it, after bavii adued 
with power from on 1. into all the world, and 
preach tfa creature," to baptize all who 
should believe, and to teach them to observe all things which 
he had commanded them. It was upon the church thus 
formed, that th< 11 Spirit descended on thr day of IYnte- 
- thus formed, it h abode, 
making them to rejoice with revivals in every age. It is the 

church thus formed, that Paul informs US is ih'' pillar and 
ground of the truth, — thai is, its support and defence ; and 
which the experience of < ight< en centuries has proved to he 
it- only earthly i : — and we freely confess, we ai 

2 the number of those who would break down tl 

. which has been her id which, when 

;i down, leai i prey to I very j emy. 

Neithei that charity, which embrace - in the 

fellowship, and invites to the table of the Lord, 



14 

all who may attend upon public worship, whatever may be 
their sentiments or their religious character, and even without 
a public profession of any sentiments. We do not believe 
that all the inhabitants of New England even, have arrived 
at that point of christian excellence, at which " congrega- 
tion" may, with safety to the truth, be rendered synonymous 
with the church of the living God : and the choice of a pas- 
tor, and the celebration of the ordinances, and the support 
and defence of the gospel, relinquished to its sole guardian- 
ship. No verily, the churches of New England have already 
felt too severely, the fatal effects of such a relinquishment ; 
and it was to avoid such a relinquishment, that our forefathers 
sought on these shores an asylum for the truth ; and founded 
these churches ; and, under God, made New England what 
it is : and it is, that you, like them, may enter the towers of 
Zion, and man with effect the bulwarks of her defence, that 
I say, every one who really believes and practises the truth, 
should, in obedience to his master, publicly profess it, and 
take his station among the soldiers of Jesus Christ. And 
having thus formed churches, we are, 

4. To choose, ordain, and support pastors who will, without 
reserve, or disguise, earnestly, clearly, and fully, before all 
persons and on all suitable occasions, preach the truth ; and 
withdraw ourselves from the minstrations of all others. This 
is not only a privilege which Christ has granted his church, 
but a most sacred trust committed to her care ; and which 
she is at liberty, for no cause, and on no occasion, to be- 
tray or relinquish. And when the churches can no longer 
exercise this right in the land of the Pilgrims, it will be time 
for them to imitate the boldest example of the Pilgrims. On 
this point the churches of Christ are very liable to err. De- 
pendant as they are upon the congregation, for the support of 
their pastor, their greatest solicitude too frequently is, to 
select a pastor of popular talents, eloquent and refined, and 
who, withal, will be very prudent in preaching the truths of 
Christianity, lest he should offend those who do not believe, 



15 

or do not love the truth ; instead of making it their first care, 
to select one who will be honest in his master's cause, and 
who will, with the eloquence of a soul imbued with the love 
of the truth, preach it so as to be neither mistaken nor mis- 
understood. 

Many churches, from fear of causing division in the socie- 
ties connected with them, or to gratify a few influential men, 
have consented to the settlement of pastors who preach no- 
thing clearly, or what is believed by the majority, a depar- 
ture from the gospel. The consequence has been, that those 
churches have declined in piety — become erroneous in senti- 
ment — been diminished in numbers — revivals have ceased, 
and the Spirit of God has departed ; — next, their creed has 
been changed, or thrown aside as a pernicious instrument 
calculated to retard the progress of the age, — a " cord to 
bind the conscience and posterity, hand and foot;" the scene 
has been closed by the voice of unblushing error, crying, 
" peace, peace" — " I know it shall ultimately be well with 
the wicked" ! 

We have arrived at a point, where the churches of Christ 
must take a firm and decided stand, and lean only on the 
arm "of him who hath all power in heaven and in earth," 
instead of those broken reeds which have already pierced 
their vitals ; and learn not only to sacrifice property, hut 
life, sooner than relinquish their rights, or betray their high 
trust. Churches must not only ordain faithful pastors, but 
prepare themselves to make great sacrifices for their support, 
and sustain them in the faithful discharge of their duty, and 
HOI disrrt them, the moment the shout of the enemy is 
heard. 

A kind and conciliating demeanor, an affectionate manner, 
in meekness instructing those who oppose, avoiding all need- 
less c : irritation and offence, are imperious duties, 

binding on churches and on ministers. Churches should sa- 
credly avoir] impairing the rights of congregations, and cbeer- 

fully make all those sacrifices which they can, consistently 



16 

with duty, to secure harmony and peace in their respective 
societies. But when required to sit under the ministrations 
of one who does not clearly and earnestly preach the truth, 
or when required to relinquish it, our uniform reply should 
be, " we can do nothing against the truth ;" and from this 
high ground, neither the love of peace, sweet and desirable 
as it is, nor the sacrifice of property, nor persecution, nor 
death even, should cause us by one hair's breadth to depart ; 
" For, what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and 
lose his own soul." If we falter and yield, even to save 
life, our great captain will treat us as cowards and traitors, 
in the day of reckoning. Union, decision, and firmness on 
this point, are, under God, the only safeguard of churches. 
And, 

5. 1 answer, we must, with firm reliance upon God, use 
faithfully and perseveringly, all the means he has given us, 
and seize upon all the opportunities he grants us to promote 
revivals of religion, and to preoccupy the minds of the 
young with truth, and to bring the whole human family to the 
knowledge, and obedience of it : and finally, I answer, min- 
isters must, abandoning all other systems, and theories, and 
authorities, plainly, fully, and earnestly, preach the Christianity 
of the Bible. It is perfect as there exhibited, and the truth 
of its doctrines, and the obligations of its commands depend 
not on human reasoning nor human authority, but upon the 
testimony and authority of God. The simple question we 
have to decide is, " is the Bible a message from God . ? " If 
it is, then all argument to prove the truth of its doctrines is 
superfluous, and as idle, as it would be, to light a candle to 
increase the brightness of the sun ; and if it be not a mes- 
sage from God, its doctrines are falsehoods, which argument 
can never prove truths. 

There is no middle ground between an implicit belief of 
the doctrines of the Bible, independent of all human argu- 
ment and theory, and a total rejection of them, as an impos- 
ture of man. And all we have to do, as ministers of Christ, 



17 

to exhibit the evidence which exists of the divine inspira- 
tion of the scriptures; show clearly what doctrines and dut 
they teach ; and urge upon the conscience the motives the) 
present, looking to the Holy Spirit to make them effectual. 
The seed is the wort/; if we SOW any other, we must not 
expect the fruits of holiness. It is the neglect of this plain 
and obvious principle, and the officious desire to imp] 
Christianity, which has so often obscured its glory, divided it- 
followers, paralized its influence, and adulterated its truths. 

III. I shall now surest a few motives, which should 
induce us to do all we may for the truth. 

1 . It is the only way in which we can expect to p« 
among us, the institutions and ordinances of religion. When 
christians can be induced to act against the truth, or, which 
is in effect the same, to remain neutral, its enemies are at 
once strengthened and emboldened in their attack ; and 
when professed christians are unwilling to make sacrifices for 

support, others cannot b ted to be very liberal ; and 

when churches value the truth so little, th.it they are willing 
to relinquish some of its doctri id sit down under the 

ministry of one who \ it partially. Of not at all, con- 

.ill assuredly take the next step, and say, the 
Support of the institutions and ordinances of the gospel 

lensome and needless expenditure, and will altogether 
withhold their aid. This is not prediction, but accomplish- 

ad is proclaimed, by tin. 1 meagre pittance which is 
grud .vii lor the support of the gospel in a \<r\ 

irtion of our towns, and by the deserted meeting- 
bouses in which no voice but tin: moaning of tin' wind- i- 

:id by the moral desolations which spread over out 

country, on which neither the rain nor dew descends. 

I d, ta tin- onlj one that will 

secure the approbation and bl< ssing <>i Chri . , it i 

the i amanded. " 1 

faith once delivered unto i •* S i the lib- 

ertv wherewith Christ hath n 



18 

the truth." " He that is ashamed of me and my words, of 
him will I be ashamed." " And he that is not with me is 
against me." " He that gathered! not with me scattereth." 
Besides, we are " stewards of the mysteries of the gospel," 
and will unfaithfulness be accepted ? We are soldiers of 
Jesus Christ, and will he approve and bless cowardice and 
desertion ? We, as churches, are the pillar and ground of 
the truth, and will he be pleased to find us basely abandoning 
it to its foes, or leaving it defenceless ? No ! no, my brethren, 
" Be faithful unto the death, and I will give you a crown of 
life." 

3. The course suggested, is the only way in which we can 
be saved. Unless we really believe Christianity as revealed, 
and practise and profess it, and hold fast to the end, we are 
not christians, and cannot be saved. "He that believeth and 
is baptised, shall be saved; he that believeth not, shall be 
damned." " And if any man draw back, my soul shall have 
no pleasure in him." He that rejecteth whomsoever I shall 
send, rejecteth me. " And it shall be more tolerable in the 
day of judgment for Sodom, than for that city." 

And finally. The truth is the cause of Jesus Christ, and 
will prevail. It has outlived all the theories and improve- 
ments of past ages. It will outlive the theories, and objections, 
and fancied improvements of this enlightened age. It will 
be believed, and obeyed, and admired as the wisdom of God, 
and angels will desire to look into it, when all its opposers, 
with their fancied illuminations, and great names, will have 
been forgotten, or remembered only as are Jannes and Jam- 
bres. " On this rock," said the Almighty Saviour, " on this 
rock will I build my church, and the gates of hell shall 
never prevail against it." 

My dea?' Brother, 

This is not the place to tell you how deeply my own 

feelings are interested in the solemnities of this day, and in 

the pleasing prospects opening before you. You are united 



19 

with a church and society of one heart and one mind, who 
have nob!}' dared to make sacrifices for the truth. The 
unanimity, firmness, decision and liberality they have mani- 
fested, are a sure pledge that they will be ever ready to 
stand by you, and co-operate with yon, and lend the whole 
weight of their influence to sustain you under the arduous 
duties, to which, as one set for the defence of the gosp< 
may be called, in this day of error and of conflict. Be the 
faithful affectionate Pastor — the zealous, indefatigable Minis- 
ter, and you will have a liberal and affectionate people. Do 
the Lord's work, and he will take care of yours. 

I am persuaded, my dear brother, you will in all your 
intercourse with your beloved people, do nothing against the 
truth, for 1 well remember the happiness 1 felt many years 
since, when, as we walked together in the fields, you related 
to me the effects which truth, under God, had produced on 
your mind ; and the deliberate determination you had formed, 
to devote your youth to the service of Christ. And I re- 
member too, that, although alone, you dared publicly to 
profess the truth. Nor shall I soon forget the happiness we 
enjoyed, when in a far distant part of the vineyard, you 
assisted me in gathering in the ripened harvest. May you 
yearly reap such a harvest ! I am persuaded you love re- 
viva!-, and prize' them, despised and reviled as they are, BS 

[chest gift which Christ bestows in these latter day-. 
You have witnessed their effects the year past, under the 
nosl favorable circumstances; and yours was the inestimable 
privilege of witnessing the last days of one, whom God de- 
lighted thus to honor. You can never forget the dory that 
DOVered around him, and the more than human elo<|uenee 

with which he spoke of a Saviour's love. Live inv dear broth- 
er, hi- eminently holy, and pray* rful, and active life, and 

you like him will h;ive thousands to adorn your CIOWO of 
glory. And when you lie on a bed of pain, you " mil w;int 
a whole heart tO feel, and a whole tongue to eXpl 



20 

separate emotion of love." When tempted to doubt the effi- 
cacy of the faith you have espoused, or to falter in the good 
work you have chosen, remember the life, the labors, the 
success, and the last hours of Dr. Pay son. — Nay, look for- 
ward to the moment, when the faithful minister shall hear 
from the throne, " Servant of God, well done /" 



»*>* 115 








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